ENGLISH
REFERENCE

offbeat

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈɔfˈbit// UK //ˈɒfbiːt// off·beat Slang

n. a person who is not part of the main group or who has a very different style. It is often used to describe someone who is a bit strange or doesn't follow the usual rules.

n. a person who is not part of the mainstream or who deviates from the norm. Often carries a slightly informal or slightly critical tone, implying that the individual is eccentric or unconventional.


SIMPLE

He is a bit of an offbeat character who lives alone in the woods.

CONTEXTUAL

The festival attracts a lot of offbeats who prefer experimental music over mainstream pop.

COMPLEX

While the rest of the neighborhood followed the standard architectural guidelines, the offbeats in the area preferred to live in converted warehouses and shipping containers.

Synonyms
Origin

From off- + beat; not following the beat (e.g., of a drum that sounds out cadence).

© 2026 English Reference